Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom/phrase means “to meet and spend time with important or influential people”?
A. On borrowed time
B. On one's toes
C. Rub shoulders with
D. Run like clockwork
Correct Answer: C
“Rub shoulders with” means to meet and spend time with important or influential people. Example: At the conference he rubbed shoulders with senior diplomats. Exam tip: Focus on the figurative meaning rather than the literal words.
Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “Read someone like a book”?
A. to be the dominant decision-maker in a relationship
B. to understand someone's thoughts or intentions very easily
C. not intended for public reporting or official use
D. the apparent or stated value without deeper examination
Correct Answer: B
“Read someone like a book” means to understand someone's thoughts or intentions very easily. Example: Her mother could read her like a book. Exam tip: Focus on the figurative meaning rather than the literal words.
Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “Raise eyebrows”?
A. to cause surprise, shock, or disapproval
B. to feel extremely well and confident
C. to earn a very large profit quickly
D. to reveal private information or secrets
Correct Answer: A
“Raise eyebrows” means to cause surprise, shock, or disapproval. Example: The unusual appointment raised eyebrows. Exam tip: Focus on the figurative meaning rather than the literal words.
Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “She put a bold face on despite the disappointing result.”, what is the meaning of “Put a bold face on”?
A. to pursue an independent course without support from others
B. too many people controlling a task can ruin it
C. to return to the simplest and most important principles
D. to pretend to be confident despite fear or difficulty
Correct Answer: D
“Put a bold face on” means to pretend to be confident despite fear or difficulty. Example: She put a bold face on despite the disappointing result. Exam tip: Focus on the figurative meaning rather than the literal words.
Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “Put one's money where one's mouth is”?
A. a past event that is no longer important
B. to escape from someone following or watching you
C. to support one's words with action or money
D. according to one's own wishes without considering others
Correct Answer: C
“Put one's money where one's mouth is” means to support one's words with action or money. Example: If he believes in the scheme, he should put his money where his mouth is. Exam tip: Focus on the figurative meaning rather than the literal words.
Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom/phrase means “to begin a serious task and commit oneself to it”?
A. Put paid to
B. Put one's hand to the plough
C. Draw first blood
D. Bring grist to the mill
Correct Answer: B
“Put one's hand to the plough” means to begin a serious task and commit oneself to it. Example: Once you put your hand to the plough, do not turn back. Exam tip: Focus on the figurative meaning rather than the literal words.
Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “Pull the plug”?
A. to stop support for or bring an activity to an end
B. to admit that one was wrong after being proved mistaken
C. to leave someone responsible for a problem or blame
D. temporary difficulty in speaking because the throat is dry or irritated
Correct Answer: A
“Pull the plug” means to stop support for or bring an activity to an end. Example: The sponsor pulled the plug on the project. Exam tip: Focus on the figurative meaning rather than the literal words.
Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom/phrase means “to decide what to do as events develop rather than plan in advance”?
A. Be on edge
B. Curry favour
C. On a wing and a prayer
D. Play it by ear
Correct Answer: D
“Play it by ear” means to decide what to do as events develop rather than plan in advance. Example: We have no fixed schedule and will play it by ear. Exam tip: Focus on the figurative meaning rather than the literal words.
Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “Penny wise and pound foolish”?
A. a person very similar in character to a parent
B. to meet and spend time with important or influential people
C. careful about small amounts but wasteful about large ones
D. immediately and without consideration; also uncontrolled depending on context
Correct Answer: C
“Penny wise and pound foolish” means careful about small amounts but wasteful about large ones. Example: Skipping maintenance to save money is penny wise and pound foolish. Exam tip: Focus on the figurative meaning rather than the literal words.
Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “Paint the town red”?
A. to accept an insult or bad treatment without resistance
B. to go out and celebrate in a lively way
C. to change one's opinion or manner, especially under pressure
D. to hope for good luck or a favorable result
Correct Answer: B
“Paint the town red” means to go out and celebrate in a lively way. Example: After the victory, the team went out to paint the town red. Exam tip: Focus on the figurative meaning rather than the literal words.
Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “Leaving the hall before the permitted time is out of the question.”, what is the meaning of “Out of the question”?
A. impossible or not allowed
B. to stop or suppress something
C. very similar in character or behavior
D. exactly at the stated time
Correct Answer: A
“Out of the question” means impossible or not allowed. Example: Leaving the hall before the permitted time is out of the question. Exam tip: Focus on the figurative meaning rather than the literal words.
Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “Out of line”?
A. to act very carefully to avoid upsetting someone
B. to fail badly or suffer an unexpected fall
C. a great deal of fuss over something unimportant
D. improper, unreasonable, or not in accordance with rules
Correct Answer: D
“Out of line” means improper, unreasonable, or not in accordance with rules. Example: His remarks were completely out of line. Exam tip: Focus on the figurative meaning rather than the literal words.
Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom/phrase means “in serious difficulty and likely to fail”?
A. A frog in one's throat
B. Not have a leg to stand on
C. On the rocks
D. The early bird catches the worm
Correct Answer: C
“On the rocks” means in serious difficulty and likely to fail. Example: Their partnership is on the rocks. Exam tip: Focus on the figurative meaning rather than the literal words.
Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “On the dot”?
A. regardless of any difficulty or obstacle
B. exactly at the stated time
C. likely or expected to happen
D. appearances can be deceptive
Correct Answer: B
“On the dot” means exactly at the stated time. Example: The examination began at nine o'clock on the dot. Exam tip: Focus on the figurative meaning rather than the literal words.
Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “On the cards”?
A. likely or expected to happen
B. to amaze someone greatly
C. to behave wildly and uncontrollably
D. to be extremely happy
Correct Answer: A
“On the cards” means likely or expected to happen. Example: A change in leadership appears to be on the cards. Exam tip: Focus on the figurative meaning rather than the literal words.
Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “They launched the project on a shoestring.”, what is the meaning of “On a shoestring”?
A. to disapprove of something
B. to gain honor or distinction
C. to become well known or respected
D. with very little money
Correct Answer: D
“On a shoestring” means with very little money. Example: They launched the project on a shoestring. Exam tip: Focus on the figurative meaning rather than the literal words.
Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “Off the record”?
A. to understand someone's thoughts or intentions very easily
B. to be too difficult for someone to understand
C. not intended for public reporting or official use
D. a normal part of one's job or routine
Correct Answer: C
“Off the record” means not intended for public reporting or official use. Example: The official made the comment off the record. Exam tip: Focus on the figurative meaning rather than the literal words.
Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom/phrase means “to have no valid argument or justification”?
A. As the crow flies
B. Not have a leg to stand on
C. Get the short end of the stick
D. Lose one's touch
Correct Answer: B
“Not have a leg to stand on” means to have no valid argument or justification. Example: Without evidence, the accusation has no leg to stand on. Exam tip: Focus on the figurative meaning rather than the literal words.
Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “No strings attached”?
A. without special conditions or obligations
B. to make useless or ineffective efforts
C. very similar in character or behavior
D. slightly ill or not feeling well
Correct Answer: A
“No strings attached” means without special conditions or obligations. Example: The grant was offered with no strings attached. Exam tip: Focus on the figurative meaning rather than the literal words.
Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom/phrase means “to declare one's beliefs or intentions openly and firmly”?
A. Batten down the hatches
B. Touch bottom
C. Cast the first stone
D. Nail one's colours to the mast
Correct Answer: D
“Nail one's colours to the mast” means to declare one's beliefs or intentions openly and firmly. Example: The candidate nailed his colours to the mast and defended the policy. Exam tip: Focus on the figurative meaning rather than the literal words.